Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68 Whether You Know It or Not

Finished

Dorian looked down at her sleeping face. Something about it made him want to mess with her.

He’d never claimed to be a good man.

And tonight, he proved it. Arden had been fast asleep when he started. He didn’t stop until she was awake, flushed, and too tired to fight.

How long he went, she didn’t even know. Eventually, she passed out again.

When her alarm went off the next morning, her whole body ached. The other side of the bed was empty.

She yawned and stumbled to the bathroom. One look at the fresh hickeys on her neck and she froze.

She’d really thought it was a dream. How was he not exhausted?

She headed downstairs, hair brushed, lips still swollen. Dorian was already at the table, reading something. Breakfast laid out in front of him.

Martha saw her. “Good morning, Miss. Come eat.”

Arden smiled. “Morning, Martha.”

She took the seat across from Dorian and started eating quietly. He glanced at her. She looked up, confused. Was he mad she didn’t greet him first? Seriously?

She met his eyes. “Morning, Mr. Vale.”

He said nothing. “This is home,” he finally muttered.

She licked her lips. “Morning, babe.”

That did the trick. His expression eased, and he reached for his breakfast. “Come to the office with me later.”

“What? No way. That’s not a good idea.”

She swallowed a bite and added, “You’ve got like a million cars in that garage and an army of bodyguards. Just send one for me.”

“There’s no army. Just Lucien and one car. If you don’t come with me, you’ll be late. And FYI, you’re still on probation. Tardiness is part of your review.”

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Chapter 58 Whether You Know it or Not

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Arden huffed. “You’re just being stingy. You have the resources. You’re just refusing to use them.”

The villa was in the middle of nowhere. Even getting a ride–share took forever. Dorian’s mood dipped. Every time he asked her to ride with him, she pushed back like it was punishment.

She said, “Fine. But you better let me off a block away.”

“You’ve got a lot of demands.”

“If you won’t drop me off early, I’ll just call a ride.”

The nerve. He stared at her flushed face. She looked stubborn, defiant, ready to fight. He leaned back and smirked. “Fine. I’ll drop you at the corner.”

“Deal.”

When he put his fork down, Arden rushed to finish up too. They walked out together. Lucien was already waiting.

Seeing the two of them step out–him tall and sharp, her bright and delicate–they looked right together. Once in the car, Dorian tossed a card at her.

She caught it. “What’s this?”

“Black card. No spending limit.” He didn’t open his tablet this time. Just leaned on the window, voice lazy.

“You’re giving this to me?”

“Yeah.

“I don’t need it.”

He really didn’t get her. He’d never been with another woman. Arden was his first–and only.

But all his friends? Cassian, Theo, Damon? They were always surrounded by women. Women who loved money, bags, jewelry.

He’d seen it firsthand. Cassian once handed a woman a card and she practically melted on the spot. Arden? Barely blinked. Said she didn’t need it.

“You’re my wife. I take care of what’s mine. Take it.”

Then she got it. This was payment for sleeping with him. Wow. “So I’m your secret mistress?”

Her voice was so soft it was practically a whisper. Darian asked, “What?”

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Chapter 68 Whether You Know It or Not

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She looked at the card and smiled faintly. “Nothing. Thanks for your generosity, Dorian.”

She slipped the card into her purse. Dorian turned to look at her. She was staring out the window now, eyes a little red. Embarrassed. But trying hard not to let it show.

Arden, you married him for that five billion. Don’t forget that. You both got what you wanted. At least he paid up. At least he never pretended it was anything more.

She stayed quiet for the rest of the ride, eyes fixed on the glass. At the corner near the office, she asked Lucien to pull over.

As she got out, she gave Dorian a look. “Thanks for the ride, Mr. Vale.”

The way she said his name–too polite. Too distant–rubbed him the wrong way.

But she was already walking away. At work, Arden found out Sienna had been pulled into a

mess.

Their target biotech firm had suddenly gained a rival. A new company was trying to muscle into the deal, pushing hard for a stake.

Sienna had been sent out on a last–minute trip to handle it.

So once again, Arden became the freest person in the office. Other teams were swamped, so they tossed her extra tasks–printing, filing, double–checking data.

She didn’t mind. At least she could still be useful.

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